RDA develops and pilots aerogel multi-layer insulation curtains at 57 farms nationwide since 2018
Saves up to 9 million KRW in annual heating costs per hectare of tomato cultivation
Starting this year, government support will be available for the installation of 'Aerogel Multi-layer Insulation Curtains' that can reduce heating costs in vinyl greenhouses by up to 20%. Although the equipment cost is higher than that of conventional insulation curtains, the government expects that the additional cost can be recovered within 1 to 2 years due to the significant heating cost savings.
The Rural Development Administration (RDA) announced on the 22nd that it will promote the commercialization of the aerogel multi-layer insulation curtains developed to reduce greenhouse heating costs and carbon emissions, and to improve crop cultivation environments in response to severe winter cold spells caused by abnormal climate.
Lee Seung-don, Director of the National Institute of Agricultural Sciences at the RDA, explained, "Heating costs account for 20 to 30% of operating expenses in vinyl greenhouses during winter," adding, "Due to recent abnormal climate, winter cold spells are occurring frequently, making it necessary to develop technologies to reduce facility heating costs."
Existing multi-layer thermal curtains (left) and aerogel multi-layer thermal curtains installed at a farm in Taean, Chungnam. (Photo by Rural Development Administration)
Most facility-based farmers use five-layer insulation curtains made of chemical cotton and polyethylene (PE) foam materials. However, chemical cotton loses its insulation performance when it absorbs moisture. Also, when the curtain is rolled up in the morning, cold water droplets retained in the cotton fall onto the crops, causing stress and triggering the 'shoot-tip death phenomenon,' which halts growth. Polyethylene foam has low vapor permeability, causing high humidity inside the greenhouse.
To solve these problems, the RDA developed a multi-layer insulation curtain using aerogel, a high-performance new material, in 2018. Aerogel is a material with a nanoporous structure (having many tiny holes inside or on the surface), making it very lightweight and excellent in thermal insulation, and it is used in defense and aerospace industries.
After registering a patent for the manufacturing method in 2020, the RDA transferred the technology to companies to establish a foundation for commercialization. From 2020 to 2022, the aerogel multi-layer insulation curtains were distributed to 57 farms nationwide through a new technology dissemination project.
Director Lee stated, "Heating costs for cultivating tomatoes on 1 hectare can reach up to 25 million KRW per month. Using conventional insulation curtains can save 11.5 million KRW, while using aerogel multi-layer insulation curtains can save 13.75 million KRW." He added, "The installation cost of aerogel multi-layer insulation curtains is 14,000 KRW per square meter, about 8% more expensive than conventional multi-layer curtains (13,000 KRW), but due to the significant heating cost savings, this cost can be recovered within 1 to 2 years."
According to the RDA, among farms participating in the new technology dissemination project, a strawberry farm in Yangpyeong that installed aerogel multi-layer insulation curtains over 1,743㎡ and a strawberry farm in Iksan with 2,125㎡ reported annual heating cost savings of up to 4 million KRW compared to using conventional multi-layer insulation curtains.
From this year, installation cost support will also be available. This is because the 'Energy Saving Facility Support Unit Price Table' in the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs support project implementation guidelines now includes aerogel multi-layer insulation curtains. The RDA plans to actively promote the selection of aerogel multi-layer insulation curtains to farms replacing worn-out existing insulation curtains.
Director Lee said, "Aerogel multi-layer insulation curtains will greatly help reduce heating cost burdens for farms and increase productivity," and added, "We will continue to develop and distribute agricultural insulation materials using various new materials for sustainable agriculture."
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